Field Experience

The primary mission of the Office of Clinical Partnerships and Community Outreach is to coordinate high-quality field experiences for teacher education candidates in all education majors. We provide support and opportunities for diverse experiences, including schools based in urban, suburban, rural, and international settings. The Office also identifies financial and other support to assist candidates through their internship and student teaching experiences, supplements information dissemination efforts while in the field community and on campus, provides a range of outreach services to support enrollment, retention, and graduation, follows up on leads to assist in the establishment of alternative route cohorts and administers the Field Based Teacher Internship Program.

Our mission is to provide community outreach services that:

• Facilitate establishing partnerships with school districts that may lead to school reform projects and alternative certification pathways, among other initiatives.
• Support opportunities for diverse experiences, including schools based in urban, suburban, rural and international settings
• Identify financial and other support to assist candidates through their internship and student teaching experiences. Our staff supplements information dissemination efforts while in the field community and on campus.
• Provide a range of outreach services to support enrollment, retention, and graduation activities.

Admission Criteria

The teacher education program at CSU has established guidelines for student teaching to ensure program integrity and to provide quality educational experiences. All students completing an initial teacher preparation program are required to student teach five full days per week for 16 weeks.

To be eligible for student teaching, the student must have:

• been admitted into the College of Education.
• presented evidence of a passing result on the Certification Content Area Test.
• attained a minimum GPA of 2.5 which is required in the following: 
  • all coursework required in the program (Program GPA)
  • all coursework in the area of specialization or concentration (with the exception of Art Education, which requires a minimum GPA of 3.0)
  • and all coursework in professional education (with the exception of Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, which require a minimum GPA of 3.0).
  • higher grade point average requirements may be included in individual program listings.
• completed all course and departmental pre-requisite requirements, including a minimum of 100 hours of pre-clinical field experience, a pre-clinical field practicum and/or internship, and the successful completions of an oral interview examination.
• a signed copy of Article 21 of the Illinois School Code.
• zero unresolved violations of the COE Professional Code of Conduct and the Dean’s Expectations of Dispositions on file.

Student Teaching Option for Full-time Substitutes

Full-time substitute teachers enrolled in a master’s degree or non-degree certification program for initial certification may qualify for a student teaching option in their own classroom without relinquishing their position or salary if they meet the following criteria:

• Minimum grade point average of 3.0 in each of the following areas:
  • all coursework required in the program
  • area of specialization or concentration
  • in professional education
• Minimum of six semesters of full-time teaching experience with total responsibility for an assigned classroom.
• Classroom assignment matching the area of certification the semester before student teaching.
• Three positive evaluations of classroom teaching performance from current school principal and one from the campus-based internship supervisor.
• Request from school’s principal for student teaching placement in current classroom and identification of a site-based supervisor.
• Recommendations from two teaching colleagues in the school.
• Professional development outside of coursework in the form of in-services, workshops, conferences, and/or membership in professional organizations.
• Portfolio of sample curriculum materials, lesson plans, and an analysis and reflection to demonstrate a meaningful impact on student learning or the learning environment.
• Passing score on the Content Area Certification Test.
• Completion of 50 secondary and 50 elementary field experience hours (by students in K-12 programs only).
• Minimum of 100 field experience hours in public schools if student teaching assignment is in a private school (no field experience hours can be waived for teaching experience). 

Background Check

All School Districts require some form of background check process. CSU uses CPS as the standard clearing house.  However, if a student chooses to opt out of CPS’s process, then the student must complete the background check process for the district​ in which ​they intend to complete their field placement hours and provide proof of that District’s background clearance prior to being placed.

Other Requirements

Qualified students are required to attend a Student Teaching Application Meeting one semester preceding the term they expect to student teach. This meeting is held each Fall and Spring Semester. The specific dates are published via print and digital media mechanisms. Students who do not meet application deadlines must reapply the following semester.  

Students should consult with their advisor or department chair to assure that courses are appropriately chosen to enhance the student teaching experience without detracting from it.  

Contact Information

For additional information concerning student teaching or the student teaching option for full-time substitutes, please contact:

Office of Clinical Partnerships and Community Outreach  

Director: Siovahn Temple, EdD  

Email: swoolum@csu.edu  

Phone: 773-995-2570 

Office Location: ED 322  

Field Placement FAQs